The Sun Room

Today is the last day of your first year of nursery school but you woke up in the middle of the night with a really high fever and so you aren't going to be there. The last two days were filled with end of the year celebrations so I think you had all the closure you need. I am a different story and was really looking forward to one last goodbye and thank you to your teachers and to one last half hour watching you in the classroom through the two-sided mirror in Nancy's office.

You could not have had a better year at school and Daddy and I could not be more proud of how far you have come. When I think back on the little girl who didn't want to be left in the classroom "without a grown-up who loves me", who was terrified to go to school every day and clung to me and then to Daddy when it was time for us to go, it just makes me so proud of where you are now. When the Sun Room door opens, you cannot get in there fast enough. You have really great friends and have loved learning and playing with them. The curriculum has been pretty amazing culminating in the raising and letting go of butterflies. Your teachers got caterpillars from California and you watched them get bigger and bigger, become butterflies and then you released them off of the terrace at school. It was a beautiful metaphor for how you have grown this year. I'm not ready to release you yet but I'm really proud of the little butterfly you have become.

On Monday after school we had a big picnic with almost all the Sun Roomers (a few people didn't make it and you really missed them and noticed their absence). We had had one in the same spot at the beginning of the year and it really showed what a difference a year makes. This time you ran off with your friends, playing hide and seek and running all over the field. You played with bubbles and balloons and had a great time. At one extremely scary moment, when it was time to leave, George's mom and I could not find you two and I kind of panicked. It was about three minutes of utter terror before you emerged from behind a tree on the far side of the field. But other than that, it was a really great, fun time and as we were leaving you said, "Mommy, can we do that again?"

On Tuesday was your end of school classroom party and Daddy and I got to come to the Sun Room and spend time in your amazing classroom.

















We had a big celebration and Jodi came and sang songs. I only cried twice. You and your teachers put together a great book about your year as a Sun Roomer with lots of pictures and information about you. I didn't know you were 7 1/4 blocks tall.












You decided to wear your very fancy sparkle dress to school for the occasion and it was a big hit. You guys had made a Butterfly Cake and you were very excited to eat it.












Unfortunately, it didn't taste as good as it looked.























We had a really great time and are both so incredibly proud of you.

Too bad that you are missing the last day of school today because you are very sick.


















But all your Sun Room friends called a little while ago and sang to you, "We miss Stella. We hope she feels better soon."
Daddy and I couldn't have imagined a better first year of school for you. We are really excited for all our adventures this summer and are so proud and happy about the little girl you are.